Golf swing training aid

ABSTRACT

A golf swing training device is presented where the device is constructed of inexpensive plastic and easily assembled. The training aid helps golfers swing down the line of the flight of the ball, correcting slices and hooks. The device can be used by right or left-handed golfers and can be used alone or in combination with driving range equipment.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application completes and extends Provisional Patent Application60/674,095, filed Apr. 25, 2005.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are many golf training aids in the current state of the art,including many directed at producing straight shots off the tee. Thetraining aids range from complex to simple in scope and execution, butthere are no training aids that accommodate the standard practice rangetee and its equipment. This device provides that capability.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is the principal object and advantage of this inventionto help golfers of all skill levels straighten out their tee shots,particularly stopping inside out and outside in swings that result inslices and hooks. Secondarily, it is an object of this invention toprovide a low-cost, easily manufactured system for straightening teeshots. It is an an additional goal of this invention to make thistraining aid compatible with standard golf practice range equipment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. Perspective view of the invention

FIG. 2. Side view of the invention

FIG. 3. End view of the invention

FIG. 4. Close-up perspective view showing ball holder feature

FIG. 5. Close-up view with ball holder over tee

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIG. 1, this invention 100 consists of a cast plastic “wall”101 that is roughly one foot long by six inches high by one-quarter inchthick, standing on its long side. The wall 101 is attached to anextension 102 that is roughly ⅝ inch wide by ⅛ inch thick, saidextension 102 possessing a ball holder ring 103 in the center of one ofits long sides that is sized to fit snugly over a standard golf rangepractice tee 105.

The wall 101 in the preferred embodiment is inserted into the extension102 by means of pressing the wall 101 into a slot 104 that runs thelength of the extension 102, permitting the wall 101 to be pressed downuntil the edge of the wall 101 is seated solidly into the slot 104. Inthe preferred embodiment, the wall 101 is made of soft plastic and theextension 102 is made of rigid plastic.

The entire device is cast from a single pieces of rubber or plastic, forlow cost manufacture, and is decorated to look like a short “wall”. Inthe preferred embodiment, both the wall 101 and the extension 102 arecast from a single mold each. The materials are soft enough to preventmarring or damage to any golf club that encounters them.

In FIG. 5, the device is used by placing the ball holder ring 103 on theside of the extension 102 over a rubber practice range tee 105, liningthe wall 101 up with the direction of flight for the ball 106, and thanhitting the ball 106 off of the practice tee 105 without striking thewall 101 with the club.

Alternatively, in FIG. 4, the invention 100 can be placed directly onthe ground and a ball 106 can be place without a tee on the cut out hole107 of the ball holder ring 103. The golfer can then strike the ball 106off of the ground without touching the wall 101 to practice his swing.

The invention 100 can be positioned for left and right-handed golfers,and can be positioned to practice reducing both inside-out andoutside-in swings. Both irons and metals can be used.

This invention has other applications, potentially, and one skilled inthe art could discover these. The explication of the features of thisinvention does not limit the claims of this application; otherapplications developed by those skilled in the art will be included inthis invention.

1. A golf swing training aid, the training aid comprised of a wall and awall extension, the wall in the shape of a long rectangle approximatelyone foot long by six inches wide by one half inch thick, the wall madeof a soft material that holds its shape, the wall extension possessing arectangular slot and an attached ball holder ring, the wall extensionapproximately one foot long by three inches wide by one half inch thick,the rectangular slot running the length of the wall extension, the ballholder ring a loop of material the same as that comprising the wallextension attached fixedly to and projecting away from the long side ofthe wall extension at the edge of the wall extension away from the slotopening, the ball holder ring possessing a concentric hole in the centerof the loop, the training aid assembled by inserting the wall into theslot of the wall extension such that the wall is firmly gripped by thesides of the slot, the training aid then placed on the ground such thatthe ball holder ring is resting on the ground with the closed edge ofthe wall extension, the wall extending vertically upward.
 2. As in claim1, a method of using the golf swing training aid comprising the steps ofplacing the assembled golf swing training aid on the ground such thatthe ball holder ring concentric hole fits over the permanent rubber teeof a golf practice range mat, lining up the long axis of the golf swingtraining aid with the desired line of flight of a ball, placing a ballon the permanent rubber tee, and then swing a golf club such that thegolf club does not contact the wall.
 3. A golf swing training aid as inclaim 1 where the wall is comprised of styrofoam and the wall extensionand ball holder ring are comprised of polystyrene plastic, the wallextension and ball holder ring cast together as a single piece.